FIELD NOTES
APRIL 2002 continued....
HNHS AGM
The Spring Meeting and AGM took place on 16 March at the Fowden Hall, Rothamsted. In between the talks members met old friends and studied the display material in the foyer and the Hall. This included displays from HBRC, the Flora Group, the Dragonfly Group, the Bird Club, some stunning wildlife and habitat photographs brought by Brian Sawford , and a new stand for the Society itself, which will be used to promote our activities at suitable events.
About forty members came to hear two fascinating talks and an encouraging and forward-looking presentation by Linda Smith from the Focus Group set up by Council in November to look into the future of the Society. Many of the issues causing concern in the Autumn, and even casting doubt on the future viability of the Society, have taken an encouraging upturn.
All the core officer posts have been filled, the recent Bird Conference was a resounding success, the long awaited 1999 Bird Report has been published, the proofs of the next edition of the Herts Naturalist are in the hands of the new editor and the Society ran a very successful stand at the Lee Valley Bird Fair.
At that event and the Bird Conference we gained 20 new members. In addition, Michael Clark's superb new book, the Mammals, Amphibian's and Reptiles of Hertfordshire has been published and is selling well. Linda also reported on the new draft constitution and simplified management structure being drawn up by the Focus Group, based on a model produced by the Charity Commission, to ensure that the Society complies with recent Charity law.
These proposals were welcomed and, from the floor, the Focus Group was thanked for its efforts by Tom Gladwin. An Extraordinary General Meeting will be called, probably in the Autumn, for the members to consider the Focus Group proposals. (Please come along then and help decide the future direction of the HNHS.)
The AGM was conducted with great speed and efficiency. Our President, Brian Sawford, stood down and was thanked for his efforts on our behalf during his two year term of office; Brian will now serve as a Vice President.
The new President is nominated by the outgoing incumbent and Brian nominated Alan Reynolds for the position. Alan is an active birder and current coordinator of the Herts Dragonfly Group. He is also the chair of the Focus Group. The AGM agreed this appointment and nominations from Council for the post of Secretary (Christine Shepperson), Treasurer (Robin Smith - many thanks to Robin for agreeing to stay on for one further year), Editor of Herts Naturalist (Stuart Warrington - thanks also to Stuart for stepping in during the course of the year and taking the next issue so far forward so fast) , and Registrar (Linda Smith, whose untiring efforts spread into all corners of our activities).
Current holders of elected positions on the Recorder's Committee, Bird Club and Mammal Group were all willing to serve again and were re-elected. The speedy completion of official business left plenty of time for our two speakers, who both gave splendid talks which I have summarised below.
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